Dorothy Carroll

Darbo, as she was affectionately called by those who knew and loved her, age 75 died on her birthday after a year long battle with cancer and leukemia. She was born on February 23, 1931 at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. She was the only child of Rex Johnson Cole and Roberta Rebecca DeBerry Cole and lived in Clifton, Tennessee. She attended Frank Hughes School and graduated on April 17th, 1948 as Salutatorian. After graduation, she attended Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. At Union she studied English and joined the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. After her junior year at Union, she was offered a job at her alma mater teaching 4th grade. She enjoyed teaching and coaching basketball from 1951-54. In the summer of 1952 she met the love of her life, Preston Welch Carroll, on a blind date. They fell in love, were engaged on September 7th. They married on November 6, 1952 at the First Presbyterian Church in Clifton, where they were both members and served for many years. They raised five children: Preston Cole Carroll, Clyde Johnson Carroll, Roberta Ann Carroll, Jeanie Carroll Cox and Janie Carroll Omer. Darbo spent most of her life in Clifton. She was a devoted Christian, a loving wife, and an incredible mom and ‘Nana’. She loved people and enjoyed nothing better than just sitting around sharing stories about the people she loved, the lessons she had learned and the faithfulness of our God. Her favorite way to spend a Sunday afternoon was a good old fashioned dinner on the ground followed by a ‘singin’. She never met a stranger, could put anyone at ease and always brought out the best in people. Darbo loved sports of all kinds, but held a special place for softball (Go P.C.’s), basketball (Go Lady Lions and Dores), football (Go Vols…unless they are playing Vandy) and whatever her grandbabies happened to be involved in. Her Bible was her favorite book and she studied it diligently every day. Her greatest legacy is one of prayer. She spent the last 16 years of her life with her family in Nashville, Tennessee attending Christ Presbyterian Church where both she and Preston were active in Bible studies and worship. She spent the last year battling cancer and leukemia. Her doctors were amazed and inspired by her faith and her courage, as were we all who witnessed her fight this battle. She is survived by her husband Preston, children Preston Cole, Clyde and wife Darlene, Ann, Jeanie and husband John and Janie and husband Chris; grandchildren, Ann Marie, Rex, Preston Welch, Preston Gordon, John, Ryan, Jessie, Chip, Addie Russell, Katelyn, Sydney, Emily Jane, Jay and Charlie. Visitation will be held at Shackelford Funeral Home in Savannah, TN (731-925-4000) from 6-9pm Thursday, February 23, 2006. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Clifton, TN at 3pm on Friday, February 24th followed by a graveside service at the Clifton Cemetery. A memorial service also will be conducted in Nashville, TN at Christ Presbyterian Church (615-373-2311) on Saturday, February 25th at 11am with visitation beginning at 9am in the parlor. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Christ Presbyterian Academy/Special Services for Children, c/o the Development Office, 2323-B Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville, TN 37215, in honor of “Miss” Darbo.